Toggle switch



J. H. KREHBIEL 3,366,755

TQGGLE SWITCH Jan. 30, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 23, 1965 v JJ/ jzze 30, 1968 J. H. KREHBIEL 6,

TOGGLE SWITCH Filed Dec. 25, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 L75 ka'e United States Patent Ofiice Patented Jan. 30, l 968 3,366,755 TOGGLE SWITCH John H. Krehbiel, Downers Grove, IlL, assignor to Molex Products Company, Downers Grove, Ill., a corporation of Illinois ontinuation-in-part of appiication Ser. No. 440,075,

Mar. 16, 1965. This application Dec. 23, 1965, Ser.

Claims. (Cl. 20067) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Ser. No. 440,075, filed Mar. 16, 1965, which is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 396,631, filed Sept. 15, 1964.

The present application relates to a switch and more particularly to a compact, snap action switch.

Various switch mechanisms are commonly used to interrupt and complete electrical circuits. Prior are switch mechanismes are often bulky and uncertain in their action. In modern phonograph changers the switch must be compact and certain it its action.

The switch in a phonograph record changer must, when actuated, complete the electrical circuit quickly. In addition, the contact of the switch must form a positive connection. While the connection must be positive when first formed, the connection must also be quickly and cleanly broken when the switch is returned to the unactuated position.

In addition to providing positive action, the phono' graph switch should be relatively inexpensive to manufacture. Thus, material and assembly costs should be held to a minimum.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a switch which is positive in its actuation to either interrupt or complete the circuit.

Another object of this invention is to provide a switch which is inexpensive and easily assembled.

Another object of this invention is to provide a switch which is compact and suitable for installation in known equipment.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the switch mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the switch of FIG. 1 in the unactuated position;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the switch in the actuated position;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective detm'led view of the switch contact mounting;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the switch taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the switch taken along the line 66 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a detailed sectional View of the mounting means for the switch :arm and switch actuator;

FIG. 8 is a detailed top view of the switch casing; and

FIG. 9 is a detailed bottom view of the switch casing.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, there is shown in FIG. 1 a perspective View of the switch. The switch 10 has a generally cylindrical body wall 12. The wall '12 has three integral, upstanding ears, tabs or prongs 14 of a bayonet nature, the upper end of each having a tapered entering surface 16 (see FIG. 6) and an underlying shoulder 18. These prongs are adapted for mounting the switch housing on a part of a base casing 26 of a record changer. The prongs, as is the entire switch housing, are made of a suitable plastic material. As will be appreciated, the plastic material of the molded housing is inherently somewhat flexible, and this allows the prongs to flex inwardly radially of the housing during installation, it being aparent that the cam surfaces 16 will be displaced radially inward when the prongs 14 are pushed upwardly to apertures 22 in the base member 20. It is apparent that the prongs 14 provide a means for connecting the switch 10 to any mechanism which has suitably spaced apertures, similar to the apertures 22, located therein. It is contemplated that the base member 20 could be a zinc casting which forms a part of a phonograph record changer.

The switch 10 has a socket 24 integrally connected to the base of the wall 12. The socket 24 is adapted to receive the plug member 26 (see FIG. 1). In addition to the plug member 26, the socket 24 also has a pair of guide slots or chutes 28 in which wires 30 may be inserted. As is shown in FIG. 6, the wires 30 are adapted to be connected to connector pins 32 and 34. The plug 26 makes electrical contact with all three of the counector pins 32, 34 and 36. V

In the embodiment shown, the contact or pin 32 is not operatively connected to the switch mechanism but is utilized for the connection of any desired auxiliary equipment. The two connector pins 34 and 36 extend through a floor or base wall 38 of the switch 10 and are, as will be more fully explained later, contacted by the movable switch contacts. In addition to the three connector pins 32, 34 and 36, the body of the switch 10 is formed with an aperture 40 into which a ground pin 42 of the base member 20 is inserted (see FIG. 5). The ground pin 42 will engage one of the wire connections in the plug 26.

As will be seen from the foregoing description, the switch casing enables the switch 10 to be installed on any desired device. The socket 24 which depends from the base of the switch casing is adapted to receive both a plug 26 and wires 30 for auxiliary equipment. The vertical chutes or guide walls 28 are utilized to position the wires on their respective connector pins. It will be appreciated that the universal switch mounting shown can be adapted for use in almost any type of electrical equipment. While it is intended that the switch will be used for a phonograph record changer, it is contemplated that it could be inserted in other known devices.

The switch mechanism itself is shown most clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3. The switch includes an arm 44 bifurcated at one end so that any desired actuating member may be inserted between the two members 46 and 48 to move the switch arm to either the unactuated position of FIG. 2 or the actuated position shown in FIG. 3. The switch arm is pivoted on a pivot post or pin 50 which is an integral part of the body of the switch (see FIG. 5). A switch actuator sector 52 is also pivotally mounted on the pivot post 50. The sector 52 is mounted in a spaced relationship below the switch arm 44. A spacer 54 retains the sector 52 in position below the switch arm 44 (see FIG. 5).

A spring 56 is connected to the switch arm 44 at 58 in an aperture in the switch arm 44. The spring 56 is connected to the switch actuator or sector 52 at an aperture 60 (see FIG. 4) in the upper surface of the sector. An end portion 62 of the spring 56 extends through the aperture 60 and into a protuberance 64 on the base of the switch actuator. As will be explained more fully subsequently, the protuberance 64 isolates the spring end 62 so that the spring end cannot short circuit the switch (see FIG. 6).

As will be seen from a comparison of FIGS. 2 and 3, the switch arm 44 and switch actuator sector 52 are connected by the spring 56 so as to form a toggle linkage. When the switch is in the position shown in FIG. 2, the

spring connection 58 and the end of the switch arm 44' are to the left of the aperture 60 and spring connection in the sector 52. As the switch arm is displaced toward the position shown in FIG. 3, the connection 58 is rotated, pressing the spring 56, until such time as the pivot point is just slightly to the right of the aperture 6G in the switch sector 52. At that point of displacement, the spring 56 will cause the sector to snap rapidly to the actuated position shown in FIG. 3. It is apparent that the toggle linkage formed between the switch arm 44 and switch actuator or sector 52 results in a positive actuation of the switch after the switch arm 44 has been displaced a predetermined amount.

The switch actuator sector 52 carries moving contacts 66. The moving contacts 66 are pivotally mounted on the switch sector 52 by a pin or rivet 68 which extends through an aperture 7 in the switch sector (see FIG. 4). The switch contacts 66 include a mounting portion 72 which engages the upper surface of the sector 52 and is retained there by the hollow rivet 68 which extends through the mounting portion 72 of the movable switch contacts and into the aperture 7 0 of the switch sector (s ze FIG. 6). Thus, the swich contacts 66 are pivotally mounted on the sector 52 which is in turn pivotally mounted on the switch casing at the pin 50. The edges of an angle 74, of the switch contacts 66, engage surfaces 76 and 78 of the switch sector to limit the pivotal movement of the moving contacts 66.

The switch contact 66 has a pair of extending arms 80 and 82. The two arms form a generally U-shaped member which is connected to the angle 74 and to the mounting portion 72 for the switch contacts (see FIG. 4). The two arms 80 and 82 have upstanding ears or tabs 84 and 86, respectively, which engage ear limiting surfaces 88 and 90 of an aperture 92 in the sector 52 (see FIG. 2). The ear or tab 86 has a tip or angle member 94 which projects from the ear and engages the upper surface of the sector 52 (see FIG. The two arms 80 and 82 resiliently engage the two surfaces 88 and 90 of the aperture 92. The two arms are, when engaged by the two surfaces 88 and 90, compressed inward of their unrestrained position.

The two arms 86 and 82 form a pair of lead springs which tend to expand outward from the position shown in FIG. 2. When the switch is actuated, the two arms 80 and 82 engage upper contact portions 98 and 106 of the two connector pins 34 and 36 (see FIG. 5 The two arms 80 and 82 are cammed inwardly by the two fixed contacts 98 and 100 (see FIG. 3) when the switch is actuated. In the actuated position, the contact arms do not engage either of the two surfaces 88 and 90 of the aperture 92, but are further compressed by the two fixed contacts 98 and 100. The inward displacement and the camming action of the pins 98 and 100 result in a wiping action by the two arms 80 and 82 when they engage the fixed contacts 98 and 109. The wiping action ensures that a solid and clean electrical connection will be formed between the arms 86 and 82 and the fixed contacts 98 and 100. The spring member 56 will force the sector 52 to the left, as shown in FIG. 3, thereby forcing the arms 80 and 82 between the two fixed pins 98 and 100.

The sector 52 has surfaces 102 and 104 which will abut the wall 12 and limit the pivotal motion of the sector 52. Thus when the switch is unactuated, as shown in FIG. 2, the surface 104 of the sector 52 will abut the wall 12. When the switch arm 44 has been actuated, the surface 102 of the sector 52 will abut the wall 12 to limit the pivotal movement of the sector. The surface 102 of the sector 52 has been shown in FIG. 3, slightly spaced from the wall 12 for purposes of clarity in the drawing.

The aperture 92 has a relatively long portion which is defined by edge surfaces 94 106, 198 and 110 (see FIG. 4). The movable contacts 66 are attached to the sector 52 by placing the ears or tabs 84 and 86 of the arms 86 and 82 in the longest dimension of the relatively oblong portion of the aperture 92. The natural spring tendency of the arms 81 and 82 is unrestrained when the switch contacts 66 are initially so placed in the oblong portion of the aperture 92. The ear or tab 36 will, therefore, abut the surface of the relatively oblong portion of the aperture 92, while the ear or tab 84- will abut or at least approach the surface 168 of the aperture 92. The mounting portion '72 of the switch contacts 66 is then displaced toward the surface 112 of the aperture 92. A rounded corner or cam surface 114 joins surfaces or edges 88 and 119 to one another, and this rounded corner will act as a cam to slide the ear or tab 84 into position abutting the surface 88 of the aperture 92 upon such movement. When the ears or tabs 84 and 86 have been so positioned, an aperture 115 of the mounting portion 72 will be positioned over the aperture 76 in the sector 52. The rivet or pin 63 may then be inserted to retain the switch contacts 66 in position in the aperture 92.

It will be seen that the aperture 92, by its unique shape, permits the two arms 80 and 82 of the switch contacts 66 to be positioned with a minimum of effort. The cam surface 114 of the aperture will force the arms 80 and 82 toward each other as the switch contacts 66 are positioned. The tip 94 will retain the two arms 86 and 82 Vertically in position relative to the upper surface of the sector 52, while the contacts are being installed. The ear or tab 84 does not have a tip, similar to the tip 94, since the single tip 94 is sufficient to retain the moving contacts 66 in place. Assembly of the switch requires only the positioning of the tip 94 and the sliding of the ear or tab 84 into position. Once the contacts have been installed, the tip 94 will guide the arms 80 and 82 when they are compressed by the two fixed contacts 98 and 100, when the switch is actuated, for sliding movement relative to the sector 52.

The sector 52 is held, by guide walls 116 and 118 above the upper contact portion of the contact pins 32, 34 and 36 (see FIG. 6). The guide walls 116 and 118, since they are made of plastic and formed integrally with the switch casing, provide a surface on which the sector 52 may slide with relatively little restraint. Therefore, when the switch is actuated by displacement of the switch arm 44, the sector 52 pivots sliding from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the position shown in FIG. 3 on the two relatively short guide walls 116 and 118.

The sector 52 is retained clear of the fixed contacts. Thus, there can be no possibility of a shorting out of the contacts across the surface of the sector 52 by foreign material which may adhere to the surface of the sector. In addition, the guide walls 116 and 118 provide a relatively frictionless surface for the sector 52 to slide upon when it is pivoted from the position shown in FIG. 2 to that shown in FIG. 3, or vice versa. The spring 56, in addition to connecting the switch arm 44 and sector 52 in a toggle linkage, presses the sector 52 downwardly against the guide walls 116 and 118 (see FIG. 5). Thus, the spring 56 provides for a snap acting toggle linkage and retains the sector 52 firmly against the upper surface of the guide walls 116 and 118.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the toggle switch of FIG. 1 forms a positive connection when it is actuated. The bifurcated switch arm 44 is adapted to be actuated by any desired mechanism. Upon actuation, the toggle switch will cause the two contact arms 86 and 82 to engage the fixed contacts 98 and 166 to form an electrical connection between the two switch contacts.

Since the sector wall 52 is positioned above the contacts 98 and 109, they cannot be shorted out by foreign material on the sector. When the switch is returned to its open or unactuated position shown in FIG. 1, the contacts 66 are clear of the fixed contacts 98 and 100. While the protuberance 64 is adjacent to the fixed contacts 98 and 100, it is apparent that the spring 56, since it is insulated by the protuberance 64, will not result in a shorting out of the two contacts. The switch, as a result of its novel construction, is compact and forms a positive connection with the fixed contacts when actuated. The switch will, when returned to the unactuated position, form a clean break with the fixed contacts 98 and 100.

The specific example herein shown and described is illustrative only and various changes in structure will, no doubt, occur to those skilled in the art, and these changes are to be understood as forming a part of the invention, insofar as they fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A switch mechanism including a body member, an actuator arm pivotally mounted on said body member, a switch sector pivotally mounted on said body member, spring means connecting said actuator arm to said sector in such a manner that said sector and actuator arm form a toggle linkage, fixed contact means mounted on said body member, movable contact means mounted on said sector, said movable contact means including a pair of contact arms, said contact arms being interconnected at a first end portion and separated at a second end portion, said second end portion of said contact arms resiliently engaging said fixed contact means when said sector is in a first position and said second end portion of said contact arms being separated from said fixed contact means when said sector is in a second position, and guide means located within said body member, said guide means including a plurality of spaced apart guide walls extending from said body member and being in sliding contact with a surface of said sector at a location radially outward of and spaced apart from a pivot mounting for said sector, said sector being supported by said guide means in a spaced apart relationship relative to said fixed contact means when said sector moves from said first position to said second position.

2. A switch mechanism including a body member, an actuator arm pivotally mounted on said body member, a switch sector pivotally mounted on said body member, spring means connecting said actuator arm to said switch sector in such a manner that said sector and actuator arm form a toggle linkage, fixed contact means mounted on said body member, movable contact means mounted on said sector, said movable contact means including a pair of resiliently mounted contact arms, said contact arms having an end portion for engaging said fixed contact means when said sector is in a first position, said end portions of said contact arms being disengaged from said fixed contact means when said sector is in a second position, said sector having aperture means with which said contact arms operatively cooperate, said aperture means including a first relatively oblong portion and a second shorter portion extending transversely outwardly from said first relatively oblong portion, said first portion of said aperture means receiving said end portion of said contact arms when said contact arms are in an unrestrained initial position, said second portion of said aperture means retaining said end portion of said contact arms in a compressed condition relative to each r other when said contact arms are in a second normal position.

3. A switch mechanism as set forth in claim 2 wherein said contact arms are positioned adjacent to a first surface of said sector and one of said contact arms has tip means in sliding contact with a second opposite surface of said sector.

4. A switch mechanism as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first relatively oblong portion of said aperture means is connected to said second portion of said aperture means by cam means for compressing said second end portion of said contact arms relative to each other, when said contact arms are moved from said initial position to said second normal position.

, 5. A switch mechanism as set forth in claim 2, said spring means engaging an aperture in a first surface of said sector and extending through said sector into a protuberance on a second opposite surface of said sector.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,642,506 6/1953 Mucher 200-67 2,286,162 6/1942 Schellenger ZOO-67 2,709,727 5/1955 Dressel ZOO-67 ROBERT K. SCHAFFER, Primary Examiner.

D. SMITH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SWITCH MECHANISM INCLUDING A BODY MEMBER, AN ACTUATOR ARM PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAIDS BODY MEMBER, A SWITCH SECTOR PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID BODY MEMBER, SPRING MEANS CONNECTING SAID ACTUATOR ARM TO SAID SECTOR IN SUCH A MANNER THAT SAID SECTOR AND ACTUATOR ARM FORM A TOGGLE LINKAGE, FIXED CONTACT MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID BODY MEMBER, MOVABLE CONTACT MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID SECTOR, SAID MOVABLE CONTACT MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF CONTACT ARMS, SAID CONTACT ARMS BEING INTERCONNECTED AT A FIRST END PORTION AND SEPARATED AT A SECOND END PORTION, SAID SECOND END PORTION OF SAID CONTACT ARMS RESILIENTLY ENGAGING SAID FIXED CONTACT MEANS WHEN SAID SECTOR IS IN A FIRST POSITION AND SAID SECOND END POR- 